Pleural mesotheliomas. Up-to-date.

Pleural mesotheliomas are rare primary tumors of the pleura. Three groups a re classified under the term mesothelioma: 1) benign pleural mesothelioma f or which complete surgical treatment is curative with a good prognosis; 2) localized malignant mesothelioma which is 3 fibrosarcoma, best treated by w ide en-bloc resection; 3) diffuse malignant mesothelioma which is mainly of epithelial type. The prognosis is poor in spite of all therapeutic approac hes using irradiation, chemotherapy and surgery, alone or in combination, a nd long-term survivals are uncommon. Two surgical approaches are currently available for patients with diffuse mesothelioma: radical extrapleural pneu menectomy and pleurectomy/decortication. Rigourous combinations of multimod ality therapy are needed to improve local control and survival.